What you'll see: CSL's Silver Anniversary Home Tour in Piedmont and Crocker Highlands features five architectural gems including a Tudor mansion by Hearst Castle Architect Julia Morgan; an Albert Farr Georgian Colonial with a two-plus story designer showcase; a William Schirmer French Normandy with Hollywood ties and allure; a Newsom & Newsom Traditional with designer decor and art; and an award-winning, Platinum LEED Mid-Century Modern.

Details: Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 on tour days: $55 with lunch. $5 off each ticket for groups of 10 or more. http://wehelpkids.org/.

April 27

Naglee Park Vintage Home Tour (San Jose)

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Who benefits: Preservation of the San Jose Woman's Club building.

The living room in one of five homes included on the Heart of the Home Tour April 26 and 27 in Piedmont and Crocker Highlands. (Aric Crabb/Staff)

What you'll see: Four homes in a five-block area of Naglee Park, including a landmark once owned by former San Jose Mayor Ernie Fenzel and architectural styles that include ranch, craftsman, Tudor and Spanish Colonial Revival.

Extras: Boutique, talk by historian April Halberstadt, Tea on the Terrace.

Details: Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 day of tour; $25 for SJWC members; $25 for groups of five or more. Tickets for Tea on the Terrace, which must be ordered by April 22, are $30. Tour and Tea cost $55. 408-294-6919, www.sjwomansclub.org.

Who benefits: San Francisco University High School's financial aid program.

What you'll see: Top West Coast designers have transformed the Pacific Heights mansion Herbst Manor into the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase. This 8,000-plus square foot Georgian residence features spacious formal rooms, a master bedroom, dramatic grand entry and stairway, meticulous landscaping and a penthouse suite and outdoor terrace with panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and the city.

Extras: "Friday Nights at Showcase," a happy-hour event with opportunities to meet designers and hear about the latest trends.

Details: Tickets are $30, $25 for seniors; available at the door or online at www.decoratorshowcase.org/tickets. Group rates for 10 or more can be arranged in advance by calling 415-447-5830.

April 28

Bay-Friendly Garden Tours

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 28

Who benefits: The Bay-Friendly Landscaping & Gardening Coalition's program to promote sustainable landscaping and gardening practices throughout the Bay Area.

Extras: The guidebook includes coupons, including up to 20 percent off at several local nurseries.

Details: Visit www.bayfriendlygardentour.org to purchase a guidebook with garden descriptions, directions and entrance tickets. Cost is $5 for digital guidebooks or $10 for a hard copy. Purchase hard copies by April 19.

May 4-5

Willow Glen Lifestyles Home Tour

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5.

Who benefits: San Jose Day Nursery scholarships for low-income families.

What you'll see: Six homes and one spectacular garden, including a new resort-inspired home with state-of-the-art amenities, a recently renovated family ranch-style home. A garden home, open for touring inside and out, will be the setting for box lunches, refreshments, wine tasting, artists and boutiques.

Extras: Boutique, raffle.

Details: Advance tickets are $35 for the tour and $15 for lunch. Available online at www.sjdn.org and Able Printing, Grace on the Avenue and Willow Glen home and Garden. Tickets can be purchased day of tour for $40 (lunch $17) at 1448 Newport Ave., on the tour route. www.sjdn.org/homeTour.

May 4-25

Walking Tours of Palo Alto Neighborhoods

When: Saturdays, May 4-25. Tours begin at 10 a.m. except for May 4 which begins at 9:30 a.m.

Who benefits: Palo Alto Stanford Heritage (PAST), a nonprofit serving Palo Alto and Stanford, whose mission is to educate the public about historic architecture, history and neighborhoods.

What you'll see: Visit a different neighborhood each week. May 4: Homer Avenue. May 11: Downtown Palo Alto. May 18: Crescent Park Charm. May 25: Professorville.

Extras: "What's Modern About Bay Area Modern Architecture?" with Dave Weinstein, architectural writer and author. 1 p.m. May 19. Palo Alto Woman's Club.

Who benefits: Proceeds help fund scholarships and grants and ongoing efforts to tend public gardens.

What you'll see: A range of eight Oakland gardens, from a small, native-planted front yard to a meticulously designed serenity garden, each with unique features such as mosaic art and sculpture, clay chickens, a country cabin, decorative metalwork and more.

Details: Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 day of the tour. 510-898-6872, www.hillsidegardeners.com. You may also mail a check, made out to Hillside Gardeners of Montclair, to 3811 Monterey Blvd., Oakland, CA 94619. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Bay-Friendly Garden Tours (Napa County)

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 5

What you'll see: Diverse home gardens in Napa County showcasing natural gardening techniques.

Extras: The guidebook includes coupons, including up to 20 percent off at several local nurseries.

Details: Visit www.bayfriendlygardentour.org to purchase a guidebook with garden descriptions, directions and tickets. Cost is $5 for digital guidebooks, or $10 for a hard copy. Purchase hard copies by April 26.

What you'll see: Some 50 Alameda County and Contra Costa County gardens ranging from a 30-year-old wildlife oasis to brand new installations, five-acre lots to small front yard gardens, local native plants to natives from throughout California, gardens designed and installed by owners to those designed and installed by professionals.

Details: Tickets are $30 if purchased before April 30, or $35 at the door; $25/$30 for ages 65 and older. 925-743-1838, http://daw-ca.aauw.net.

Gilroy Impressions Home and Garden Tour

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11.

Who benefits: Gilroy youth programs.

What you'll see: Four showcase homes with interesting floor plans and outdoor spaces: two vintage homes in Gilroy, including a 1942 ranch style converted to Spanish style, and two contemporary homes in the city's western hills.

Extras: Home and garden boutique, appetizers, no-host wine at the tour's conclusion.

Details: Tickets are $25, advance purchase, or $30 on tour day. Presale tickets will be held at check-in at 7751 Princevalle St., Gilroy. Final tour check-in, 2 p.m. each day. 408-706-6235; www.gilroyassistanceleague.org.

Vintage Home and Garden Tour (Benicia)

When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 11.

Who benefits: Benicia Historical Society programs.

What you'll see: Six vintage homes representing an array of architectural styles, and one charming garden, within walking distance of downtown Benicia.

Details: Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 the day of the tour available at Benicia Main Street, Bookshop Benicia, Camellia Team Room and Steve's Hallmark. 707-315-6434, 707-746-6689; www.beniciahistoricalsociety.org.

May 18

Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

Who benefits: Five local nonprofit organizations: Day for Children, Coach Art, Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Lafayette Library and Learning Center and We Care.

What you'll see: Six unique Lafayette kitchens in homes ranging in style from farmhouse rustic to Mediterranean.

Extras: Kitchen tour program detailing special design elements and information on the architects, designers and contractors who created the kitchens.

Details: Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible), with a box lunch available for $12. Tickets can be purchased from Douglah Designs, and Premier Kitchens, Lafayette; www.lafayettejuniors.org.

What you'll see: Ten spacious historic homes and their parklike gardens above the Claremont Hotel. The houses were constructed between 1909 and 1941, and are all survivors of the 1991 Oakland Hills fire.